Posted on: 16 Sep 2024

ALDI’s new store in Ennis, Co. Clare opened on Thursday, creating 30 new permanent jobs. It represents an investment of over €4 million in the area. It was officially opened by the local team, led by Store Manager, Tomas Darela and ALDI Play Rugby Ambassador, Paul O’Connell.

Located in Westpoint Retail Park, the store becomes ALDI’s fifth store in County Clare and second store in Ennis. It is the 162^nd store ALDI has opened nationwide since first arriving to Ireland 25 years ago.

Clare Investment

Since opening its first Clare store on Francis Street, Ennis in 2005, ALDI has invested over €24 million in the county. The retailer employs over 135 people across its five stores in Clare, spending over €3.2 million on wages annually. ALDI spent €1 million with its three local Clare based suppliers in 2023.

Speaking at the Ennis store opening, Tomas Darela, ALDI Ennis Store Manager said: “I’m thrilled to open ALDI’s second store in Ennis today, which is our fifth store in Co. Clare. The new store, and the 30 new jobs we have created, will support our ambition to deliver value to the people of Ireland at the locations most convenient to them.

“This new store is great news for the people of Ennis. Households and families both in the town and the surrounding areas are already familiar with ALDI’s extensive range of fresh, quality Irish produce at affordable prices – now our second store in the town offers even more choice and convenience. As a leading retailer in Ireland, our promise to our Clare customers is that we will always provide the best value when they shop with us.”

Paul O’Connell, ALDI Play Rugby Ambassador added: “I’m proud to officially open ALDI’s new store in Ennis. It’s fantastic to be involved and support the town today. Working alongside ALDI, I know the significant impact that ALDI stores have on local communities like here in Ennis and across Clare – on getting children active in sport through the ALDI Play Rugby programme, creating permanent jobs, as well as delivering the best value household products to local shoppers. Congratulations to the ALDI Ennis team on their new store opening!”

ALDI Ennis

The spacious new 1,000sqm store features ALDI’s award winning Project Fresh layout and features wide aisles and hi-spec fixtures and fittings. ALDI shoppers will be able to make use of 100 car parking spaces and 10 electric vehicle charging spaces. A total of 22 bike parking spaces are also available outside the ALDI store.

Additionally, ALDI has begun the installation of self-service checkouts at select stores, including the brand-new Ennis store, which will feature six self-service checkout terminals. Existing staffed checkout lines will remain in operation alongside the new self-service tills, with ALDI committed to retaining this service for customers, while continuing to innovate with new initiatives.

The store has been designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible. It is powered by 100% green electricity and features ALDI’s new Electronic Shelf Labels in store in place of traditional paper price labels, meaning that stock or price changes can be quickly and easily communicated to customers.

The Ennis store opening hours are:

• Mon to Sat: 08:00 - 22:00
• Sun: 09:00 - 21:00

Community Support

Each Clare store has recently nominated four charities and community groups to receive €500 ALDI gift cards as part of ALDI’s Community Grants programme. This year’s chosen recipients are with Cranny After School Care, Killaloe/Ballina Community & Family Resource Centre and Kilrush RNLI. In addition, Ennistymon Community College has been chosen to receive €2,500 worth of gift cards to mark ALDI’s 25^th year in Ireland.

ALDI’s existing stores across Co. Clare are deeply rooted in their local communities. To date, the stores have donated almost 33,000 meals to local charities through FoodCloud, worth over €41,000.

In addition to supporting local charities, ALDI, in collaboration with Green Belt, is the first retailer in Ireland to commit to planting 1 million native Irish woodland trees by 2025.

ALDI25

This year marks 25 years of ALDI in Ireland. An Economic Impact Report commissioned by ALDI to mark this occasion calculated that the retailer’s economic contribution to Ireland in 2023 was €757 million while ALDI spent €1.1 billion with Irish suppliers – a 58% increase in purchases from Irish suppliers since 2019. Since 1999, ALDI has invested more than €2 billion in capital expenditure in Ireland.

Many employees have worked with ALDI for over 20 years, including Nuala Hegarty, who works in ALDI’s existing store on Francis Street in Ennis, Co. Clare. Nuala began working in ALDI’s Ballincollig store in 2000, one of two stores ALDI opened in November 1999 to launch in Ireland.

Supplier Support

The Grow with ALDI supplier development programme offers up-and-coming artisan Irish food and drink producers the chance to have their products listed in ALDI’s 162 stores. ALDI has invested more than €10 million in the programme since 2018 and currently works with over 330 Irish food and drink producers.

Opening Offers

ALDI is offering a wide range of special opening offers at its Ennis store including a 6.5L Air Fryer for just €29.99, was €69.99 and a Cordless Circular Saw for €19.99, was €29.99. There are lots more Specialbuys too – all at amazing prices!